Each quarter, New Summit Academy teachers and students collaborate in developing rigorous, dynamic classes which challenge students to develop academic skills along with strengthening skills in executive functioning, time management, interpersonal relationships, and more.
A few highlights from this quarter include:
English Literature and Composition classes studied the art of Creative Nonfiction, vocabulary development, literary devices, interviewing skills, and increasingly-sophisticated writing techniques.
Students then conducted interviews with a family member about a universal human experience that occurred before students were born, and then applied their learning by crafting compelling creative nonfiction "Family Legends" about their subjects.
Students then conducted interviews with a family member about a universal human experience that occurred before students were born, and then applied their learning by crafting compelling creative nonfiction "Family Legends" about their subjects.
Beginning through Advanced Spanish students are learning more complex grammar this quarter and have been learning about the different provinces of Costa Rica in Spanish class.
Students researched the geography, flora, fauna, culture, and traditions of each province, and presented to the community what they learned.
Students researched the geography, flora, fauna, culture, and traditions of each province, and presented to the community what they learned.
In Algebra II classes students learned about statistics and representations, dispersion measures, and how to use them to analyze different data sets. While in Precalculus, they studied the exponential and logarithmic functions, the relationship between them as inverse functions, and the properties and graphs of each, and concluded with the solution of exponential equations.
In Geometry, classes focused on 3 types of conics - parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas - learning the definitions, characteristics, formulas, and the elements that compose them. Algebra I students learned ways to write a quadratic equation, including the properties, domain, range, and vertex, along with factoring techniques to solve quadratic equations and find the roots of functions.
In Geometry, classes focused on 3 types of conics - parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas - learning the definitions, characteristics, formulas, and the elements that compose them. Algebra I students learned ways to write a quadratic equation, including the properties, domain, range, and vertex, along with factoring techniques to solve quadratic equations and find the roots of functions.
Photography classes took on advanced techniques of using the camera in manual mode and the relationship between f-stops, shutter speeds and ISO.
With this knowledge, students were able to take images with intention, employing lens selection, depth of field control, creating or capturing motion, and understanding soft, hard, and reflective light.
With this knowledge, students were able to take images with intention, employing lens selection, depth of field control, creating or capturing motion, and understanding soft, hard, and reflective light.
NSA’s Documentary Filmmaking class studied the elements that compose a documentary, along with off axis, direct to camera, and “man on the street” interview techniques.
Using this knowledge, each student created a personal journal that traced their life up to the point of entering NSA. Using direct to camera self interviews, interviews with parents, archival videos, and still pictures of their lives at home and of current events during their stay in NSA, the students examined their lives in a very personal and profound way.
Using this knowledge, each student created a personal journal that traced their life up to the point of entering NSA. Using direct to camera self interviews, interviews with parents, archival videos, and still pictures of their lives at home and of current events during their stay in NSA, the students examined their lives in a very personal and profound way.
World History students concluded their semester-long study of Yuval Noah Harari’s Homo Deus, exploring Humanist ideologies and their role in conflicts like WWII and the Cold War. They examined how modern science views humans and all life as biochemical algorithms and how new technologies challenge limits on mortality, happiness, and abilities. Students then researched and wrote papers on the future implications of these advancements.
U.S. History and Government students studied history, current events and predictions for the future through a geopolitical lens, focusing on how geography influences interactions. The course was divided into three parts: The Past (ancient history to 1944); The Recent Past (the past 80 years); and Some Predictions (future opportunities and challenges). For their projects, students researched and presented arguments on why specific countries might join or leave U.S. alliances or competing systems.
Meanwhile, the other U.S. History and Government class explored U.S. foreign policy from 1800 to the present, focusing on smaller diplomatic and military engagements between major wars, from the Barbary Wars to the Boxer Uprising. Students began research projects on how geopolitical factors, technological advances, and political will contributed to the U.S. becoming a global superpower, with this work continuing next quarter.
In Humanities class, the quarter theme was “The Complexities of Gender.” The class studied the potential mental health, developmental, and self-image impacts of culture, mass media, and social media on teen and young adults caused by the inundation of concepts, images, and representation of gender, masculinity, and femininity. In their projects, students conducted, recorded, presented, and reflected on in-depth, focused interviews on these topics with members of our community.
U.S. History and Government students studied history, current events and predictions for the future through a geopolitical lens, focusing on how geography influences interactions. The course was divided into three parts: The Past (ancient history to 1944); The Recent Past (the past 80 years); and Some Predictions (future opportunities and challenges). For their projects, students researched and presented arguments on why specific countries might join or leave U.S. alliances or competing systems.
Meanwhile, the other U.S. History and Government class explored U.S. foreign policy from 1800 to the present, focusing on smaller diplomatic and military engagements between major wars, from the Barbary Wars to the Boxer Uprising. Students began research projects on how geopolitical factors, technological advances, and political will contributed to the U.S. becoming a global superpower, with this work continuing next quarter.
In Humanities class, the quarter theme was “The Complexities of Gender.” The class studied the potential mental health, developmental, and self-image impacts of culture, mass media, and social media on teen and young adults caused by the inundation of concepts, images, and representation of gender, masculinity, and femininity. In their projects, students conducted, recorded, presented, and reflected on in-depth, focused interviews on these topics with members of our community.
In Music Studio Technology and Live Performance Combo, students either enhanced their traditional instruments, worked on software-based music production, or focused on lyric writing and recording projects.
By the end of the quarter, they presented their progress and demonstrated significant skill development.
By the end of the quarter, they presented their progress and demonstrated significant skill development.
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